BFW - what is/was your early labor project? - Page 2

[tschecter]

wow, you have TIME for "early labor projects"? My births so far (I have 2 olders) have lasted all of 4 hours from the first contraction to the birth... and they start out with contractions being all of about 5 minutes apart from the get-go... I have never considered a project for this one (first time planning on staying home... actually planning UC) I guess when the time comes, I will set up the bed (or make DH do it) and hop in the shower... something about birth makes me want to feel extra clean, kwim? so even if I have managed to get a shower already that day, I know I will want another... and after that, well, I will just see what happens, cause by the time I am done washing, I may just decide to stay in the shower to finish the labor... who knows how long or short this third labor could be though... or when, for that matter...

[LeilaM]

Depending on how much time I have, I want to

• bake a birthday cake
• prepare snack foods for the birth and afterwards
• clean

I tend to make overly ambitious to-do lists, so I probably won't get to do all of those things. I'd like to have the snack foods prepared and cleaning done before I go into labor, as much as possible.

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by Namaste16

My husband and I plan to create a painting together during early labor and later hang it in our home. It will be mostly abstract, which should allow us to complete the painting before the "birthing waves" become too intense. It will be a beautiful way for us to express our feelings together and give us a momento to cherish for years to come. Also, art has a way of becoming very hypnotic in itself, so hopefully the time will pass quickly and easily.

What a great idea!

[ammiga]

My midwives have a little list of things that I can do. I can make tea bags for tea to drink during labor, prepare herb bags for my sitz bath and ginger perineal compress. Nothing too big, and they will do it when they arrive if I don't. But, if I want some little projects, that's what they have on my list.

My first labor was under 6 hours, first contraction to birth (and dd was stuck and crowning for 2 hours), so I'm not sure that I'll have much time to do anything other than breathe!

[BetsyS]

My first labor was 36 hours start to finish, with the first 12 or so pretty decent early labor (i was able to still do stuff besides labor). I made supper, cleaned the house, took a nap, took a bath, and wasted time on MDC.

I plan the same things this time, maybe witht he addition of brownies.

[Yaliina]

Sounds like a lot of baking going on. That's what I though I'd do, too. I want to bake cupcakes and have DS help ice/decorate them (he's 4). I will probably clean some at first, too, since my house always needs it. I tend to have long labors with drawn-out (prodromal) first stage, so there should be plenty of time. I also though that I might play some XBox games with DH (RockBand, Sims, etc.). We'll see.

[mommyfied]

Originally Posted by tschecter

wow, you have TIME for "early labor projects"?

LOL - I don't have time either. My last one was 2.5 hrs and we were going to go to dinner but got our food to go after we sat down and I realized I'd had quite a few contrax in a short period of time. After I got home I got the bed ready and ate and then I had about 30 min until the birth!!!

I think I'll probably be running around doing last minute things. Or depending on the weather/time of day I might go outside with the girls until things get intense.